Resolutions are made to be broken…or are they?

Say goodbye to 2008 and give a warm welcome to 2009! The New Year symbolizes hope and a fresh start for everyone, especially for those who, in light of this New Year, make new resolutions. New Year Resolutions are a set of goals that a person promises to him or herself that he or she will keep, or strive after, throughout the year. Many students at FVHS practiced this age old tradition on January 1^st.  

Many students insist that setting a goal and actual acting upon it gives a sense of euphoria or self accomplishment. “It makes you feel that you\’ve accomplished something special,” says senior Patrick Williams. “If you are able to go through a year without doing something bad, then you feel good about yourself.”  

Several FVHS students believe that because no one knows what the New Year brings, the best they can do is hope, and that because there is no straightforward plan set out for them, the best thing is to create a structure or guideline for themselves to become a better person. 

“The New Year is a way to kind of forget about what you\’ve done last year and start fresh,” says junior Brandon Shinamoto.

The New Year\’s resolution is based on self discipline and internal struggle but let\’s be honest here. How many of us will actually stop eating junk food or stop lying? Even if one is staying committed, how long will it be until one breaks the personal promise?  

I say, not too long.  

For most of us, resolutions are just made spur of the moment and just a traditional way to celebrate the New Year. But let\’s face it— by the end of the month, most of us will probably be waist deep in our broken resolutions or have forgotten we made them at all.  

“It\’s okay. You just broke it once. It\’s not going to hurt. Just try again tomorrow!” Sure. We\’ve all heard this one too many times. I say no. It\’s broken! Once you break it, there\’s no going back.  

Of course one naturally resets the goal but technically, the New Year\’s Resolution is no longer official. Once the chocolate is in your stomach and all over your face, you may even get that funny feeling that something is wrong.  

Hate to break it to you, but that feeling is called guilt. Dragging that guilt all year long while waiting for 2010— well, that\’s just a burden.  

My best wishes to those who can actually keep their resolutions, but here\’s some advice to those who know you\’re going to break your resolution: If you really don\’t plan on staying true to your goal, don\’t even make them. Just break it now and get it over with.

There is no need to suffer two months of no chocolaty goodness to find that you\’ve broken it the week before by drinking a lousy, but perfectly delectable, cup of hot cocoa and feeling defeated afterwards. 

“What\’s the point of making a New Year\’s Resolution?” freshman Mike Dumars asks. “You\’re bound to break it sooner or later.” Dumars had broken his New Year\’s resolution to be less judgmental by January 2^nd.